Day 42: The 33 Week Mark

Today Baby and I reached the 33 week mark!  I'm still experiencing symptoms of preterm labor off-and-on (I had a bout of contractions and uterine irritability last night), but I am managing to hold on to this baby and will continue to do so for as long as possible.  Although babies born at this stage fare pretty well, Baby Boy still has a lot of growing and developing to do, and the further along I can get him, the better.  B was born just two weeks from now, but I'm hoping this baby holds out longer than that.  My next hurdle is 34 weeks (my doctor's second goal for this pregnancy).  My doctor is allowing me a field trip in a wheelchair in the middle to end of next week for an hour or two, as long as I'm not very active.  The possibilities of where to go are endless. . . a restaurant, a baby store, the library . . . I'm getting excited just thinking about it.  34 weeks here we come!

Highlights of Week Thirty-Three (31 week fetal age):

Baby's length is 17+ inches and baby's weight is about 4 pounds, 8 oz.+ (the size of a large pineapple) Baby sleeps in 20-40 minute periods and could be dreaming in utero. Baby is head down in pelvis.  The baby’s skeleton is hardening (though skull bones won't fully fuse together until early adulthood, when brain and head has done all is growing). Immune system developing. The diameter of the head is about 8.5cm. Lanugo, the baby fuzz that protects baby's skin in utero is starting to disappear. Baby drinks about a pint of amniotic fluid a day to practice swallowing and breathing.  Baby has also started urinating. Baby will gain about half a pound this week and fat tissue accumulating. Hair (or peach fuzz) continuing to grow on head. Finger and toenails continuing to grow. Baby's pupils can constrict, dilate and detect light entering his or her eyes.  Just FYI:  Babies born this week usually face several weeks in the NICU for various reasons.  Lungs may need more development so baby can control his respiratory rate, eating is usually an issue (sucking reflex is weak and baby gets fatigued easily), and baby may have problems controlling temperature. But babies born at this stage, usually fare well and do not usually suffer permanent effects from prematurity.